Zero-Waste Design
Recently I have been learning and developing different zero-waste techniques of design. The process taught me that there is no “one right way” to go about zero-waste design. The ultimate goal is to waste little to no materials possible. The goal is to think sustainably, as to make sure not to create even more waste. The goal is to get creative with it, and that is what I have done here. I wanted to display the range of possibilities around how to design a zero-waste garment.
Process and Patterns
My first trials consisted of patterns that only required a few simple cuts in order to drape a silhouette. Next I began to try techniques such as taking a basic pattern block and repeating it over and over on the pattern paper, or drawing the same shape over and over on the paper. For this drape, for example, I drew triangles. After drafting I then cut the patterns out in muslin and drape on the dress form to make sure it works.
You can get a lot more technical with zero-waste design. You have to be strategic about where you place your pattern pieces, because will be planning to use the negative space pieces to complete the garment.
The last technique I trialed was the up-cycling method. I took a bunch of scraps from past projects, cut them all into strips, and then created a silhouette using weaving and braiding.
samples
